Bucknell, Oxfordshire

Bucknell
St Peter's parish church
Bucknell Location within Oxfordshire
Area	8.50 km2 (3.28 sq mi)
Population	260 (2011 Census)
•  Density	31/km2 (80/sq mi)
OS grid reference	SP5625
Civil parish	Bucknell
District	Cherwell
Shire county	Oxfordshire
Region	South East
Country	England
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	Bicester
Postcode district	OX27
Dialling code	01869
Police	Thames Valley
Fire	Oxfordshire
Ambulance	South Central
UK Parliament	Bicester and Woodstock
Website	Bucknell Matters
List of places UK England Oxfordshire 51°55′37″N1°11′10″W / 51.927°N 1.186°W / 51.927; -1.186

Bucknell is a village and civil parish 2+1⁄2 miles (4 km) northwest of Bicester in Oxfordshire, England. The 2011 Census recorded the parish's population as 260. ^[1]

Manor

After the Norman Conquest of England, William the Conqueror granted the Manor of Bucknell to Robert D'Oyly. ^[2] In 1300 the Lord of the Manor of Bucknell was Sir Robert d'Amory, father of Roger d'Amory. ^[2]

The present manor house is early 17th century, but was mostly rebuilt in the 19th century. ^{[3] [4]}

Parish church

The Church of England parish church of Saint Peter has a central Norman tower. The nave and chancel were enlarged in the 13th century ^[2] and are Early English Gothic. In the 15th century the bell stage was added to the bell tower and the Perpendicular Gothic clerestory was added to the nave. ^[5] St Peter's is a Grade I listed building. ^[6]

In 1552 St Peter's had three bells plus a Sanctus bell. In 1955 it still had three bells, but the earliest was cast in 1597. ^[2] The church's turret clock is of unknown date, but appears to be late 17th or early 18th century. ^[7]

St Peter's parish is now part of the Benefice of Bicester, Bucknell, Caversfield and Launton. ^[8]

The Trigger Pond pub

Amenities

The Bucknell Distillery, an artisan micro-distillery which makes Sky Wave Gin, was founded in the village in 2018 before moving to Bicester Heritage at Bicester Airfield in 2021. Sky Wave's London Dry Gin was named The World's Best Contemporary London Dry Gin at the 2020 World Gin Awards. ^[9]

The Trigger Pond pub in Bucknell is 17th-century. The earliest part of the building dates from 1637, ^[10] and the later part has a date stone from 1693. ^[11] It is now controlled by Wadworth Brewery. ^[10]

Water tower

Trow Pool water tower

Trow Pool water tower was built in 1909 for Major Hunloke, who then held Bucknell Manor. It served Bucknell village and the Manor estate until the 1950s, when mains water reached Bucknell. ^[12] The M40 motorway was built through the parish and opened in 1991. It passes very close to the water tower, which is now a landmark for motorway traffic.

References

1. "Area: Bucknell (Parish): Key Figures for 2011 Census: Key Statistics". Neighbourhood Statistics . Office for National Statistics. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 26 August 2015.
2. Lobel 1959, pp. 71–80.
3. Sherwood & Pevsner 1974, p. 501.
4. Historic England. "Manor House (Grade II) (1046889)". National Heritage List for England . Retrieved 26 August 2015.
5. Sherwood & Pevsner 1974, p. 500.
6. Historic England. "Church of St Peter (Grade I) (1200258)". National Heritage List for England . Retrieved 26 August 2015.
7. Beeson 1989, p. 163.
8. Archbishops' Council. "Benefice of Bicester with Bucknell Caversfield and Launton". A Church Near You . Church of England. Archived from the original on 13 October 2009.
9. "World Gin Awards 2020 - Winners". www.worldginawards.com. Retrieved 29 June 2020.
10. "Trigger Pond". Pub finder. Wadworth Brewery. Archived from the original on 31 December 2015. Retrieved 26 August 2015.
11. Historic England. "The Trigger Pond Public House (Grade II) (1200283)". National Heritage List for England . Retrieved 26 August 2015.
12. Historic England. "Trow Pool water Tower (Grade II) (1389392)". National Heritage List for England . Retrieved 26 August 2015.

Sources

• Beeson, C.F.C. (1989) [1962]. Simcock, A.V. (ed.). Clockmaking in Oxfordshire 1400–1850 (3rd ed.). Oxford: Museum of the History of Science. p. 163. ISBN   0-903364-06-9.
• Lobel, Mary D, ed. (1959). A History of the County of Oxford. Victoria County History. Vol. 6: Ploughley Hundred. London: Oxford University Press for the Institute of Historical Research. pp. 71–80.
• Sherwood, Jennifer; Pevsner, Nikolaus (1974). Oxfordshire. The Buildings of England. Harmondsworth: Penguin Books. pp. 500–501. ISBN   0-14-071045-0.

External links

• Bucknell Matters
• Sky Wave Gin